The character of Cornelia - played previously by Devyn Dalton - featured briefly as a love interest for lead ape Caesar (Andy Serkis) in the first film, but her role will be expanded considerably for the sequel.

Gary Oldman, Keri Russell and Jason Clarke will star in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, which will be directed by Cloverfield's Matt Reeves.

The original film's director Rupert Wyatt was initially set to return, but dropped out last year over concerns that he would be unable to deliver a quality film given 20th Century Fox's schedule.